Convertible worktable



July 3l, 1923.

W. B. MUNN CONVERTIBLE WORKTABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Filed May 16, 1922 July 3u, i923.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1922 1 Z5 f /C 04/ 426 Patented July 3l, i923.

5i Nr Aonme.

WILLIAM B. MUNN, or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, iiSsiGNo'E'o-E ONE-HALE 'ro lIVIEEEILI. JACOBS, or EEMEEIS, TENNESSEE.

Application led May 1G, 71922. Serial No. 561,326. y

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM B. MUNN, a citizen of the United 'States of America, residing at Memphis, in the county "of Shelby'and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful limprovements 1n Convertible VVorltables, of which the following is a speciiication.

My present invention relates tofimprove `ments in a convertible worktable and contemplates combinations and arrangements of parts `involving a'convertibleitable'upon which 'packages may be sorted and afterward wrapped, together with means for manipulating and cutting paper into sheets for 4wrappers for the Sorted packages. lllhile the subject matter of theinvention is a aplicable for use in a varietyof ways, l

'siall hereinafter refer to themachine as used for Sorting 'and wrapping laundry packages, and in the drawings vthe invention is illustrated in connection with a sorting table Such as lisused in laundries. :By .the utilization `of my invention rboth time land labor aie saved because of the convenience afforded for Soi-ting thelaundry `into 'packages yand subsequently converting the machine or Sorting 'table for use in feeding the wrapping paper, cutting the paper into Sheets 0f the required Size and sfinally wrapping lthe Successive bundles or packages. To attain these ends the 'invention lconsists in certain novel combinations and "arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully vpointed out and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the `physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according lto the best mode l have Figure Q'isa transverse vertical sectional viewat line2`2 of Figure l.

Figure Pl is a perspective View of the table, complete, illustrated in Figures l and 2, with 'the parts in posi-tion for sorting 'laundry and ina-king 'up' packages.

'Figurefl isa Sideel'evation bf tlieipaper cutter. n p

Figure?) is a top plan 'view of thecutter of Fig. 4l, parts of the cutter being reimoved for convenienceof illustration.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional 4view of the cutter at line'6-6 of "Figure, showing also `the relation of the guide bar 'forthe cutter. y

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section showing the paper retaining means.

Figure 8 is a detail view, 4partlynin Vsection, showing one end of-a paper retaining roller. 1 y

l In. the drawings l'haveillustrated the i n vention as applied to a usual type offs'orting table l of rectangular vshapeand standy ing upon legsf, but it will be understood that thetable-top l may form part of other structures suitable for tthe purpose. The top l is provided with'a removable panel?) which is complementary to an opening 4in the top, 'and ledges or shoulders 5 ymay be utilized lto support the panel 3 which` is preferably of wood ,Thepanel `Sis adapted to be used valternately withia complementary panel G, which maybe of metal vand form the top of a rectangularfhousing 7.

The panels are both adapted4 to lie flush with the top of the table whenuused, the panell 3 however "being bodily removable and detachable Afrom vthe table structure, while the panel 6 may be elevated above the top of the table but remains connected with the table structure. Thus in Figure pthe panel 3 has, been removed and the panel 6 Vis being utilized,` as for instance in a laundry, where the clear and unobstructed table top is adapted for sorting the laundry articles into bundles preparatory to `wrapping.

ln elevated above the table top, and the panel 3 has been inserted in position in order that the Sorted bundles ymay be wrapped, the .entire surfaceof the table top being available for this use. i y

Figures 1 and Qthe panel 6 hashbeen The panel 6 and housing 7 form a liftyable head which is: supported from a pair of spaced, vertical legs `8, 8, that pass through the opening et of the table top, and are connected at their lowerV endslby a crossbar 9 toV form a rigid supporting frame for the liftable head. At the center of the bar 9 is attached a slidable head 10, standing in upright position, and movable in vertical direction within the fixed hollow post 11, which is provided with guide flanges 1,1a that Vretain the slide head and guide it in its ymovement as the liftable head and its supporting frame are raised or low ered. The guide post is rigidly supported from a base 12 aHiXed to a floor or other support, and at its upper end the post may be braced from the underside ol .the table as by diagonal braces 13. These parts may be made up of suitable material for the purpose and constructed in proper sizes and shapesas` desired,and the entire movable element comprising the liftable head, its frame, and the sliding head may be raised or lowered by turning the handle wheel 14. A bracket 15 is attached beneath the table top in which is journaled the wheel-shaft 15 and a reel 16 on the shaft is revolved by the action of the wheel to wind or unwind the cord or cable 17 on the reel. The cordis passed from the reel and wrapped with one or two turns around a hook or other device 18 on the cross bar 9 and by friction the cord is held to the hook. The cord thence passes up over a guide pulley 19 supported from the fixed post 11, and a counterbalancing weight 2O is attached at the free end of the cord. It will be evident that by turning the handle wheel the liftable head may be elevated toposition ot Figure 1, or by reverse movement of the wheel the littable head may be lowered. to position ot' Fig. 3, the counterbalancingl weight and supporting cable 17 maintaining the equilibrium'ofthe movable member in all positions. The weight 20 counterbalances the load ot the liftable panel and slidable head,. so that the panel will remain `balanced and stationary in its elevated. position, but may be moved as described by turning wheel 14. It necessary, means may Ibe employed to control the movement of the shaft` 15.

IAfter the bundles have been sorted on the table in Figure 3, the' liftable head Ais elevated topposition of Figs. 1 and 2, the panel 3 isv replaced, andthe table is now ready and available for use in wrapping the: bundles, and means are provided within theA housing 7of the liftable head for insuringready access'to the free ends of the paper sheets, bythe wrapper. A pair of gravity rollers or` rolls 21 and 22 are illus- ,"tratedV within the housing in Figure 2, each 'lvvlllg a Central Shaft 23 forming trunnions Y tion.

at its ends, and it desired small rollers 24 may be utilized on the ends of these trunnions to vreduce friction andl insuresmooth movement ot these gravity rolls. The rolls are supported in a pair of side plates 25 attached at the inner sides oi' the ends of the housing 7, and the plates are provided with complementary pairs of bearing slots 26, 27. These slots are inclined downwardly and to the rear of the machine, and the rollers 241, or the trunnions 23 if rollers are not used, are adapted to ride up and down in these slots. In combination with a stationa-ry roll or rod 28 for each gravity roller, these members are designed to retainthe free ends of the paper sheets pulled from the paper rolls 29 and 30 supported beneath the table in a bracket 81 which is provided with the usual supporting members.

Thereare two rolls of paper shown in` laundry. The :tree ends of the paper rolls are brought up through a slot Sprovided therefor between the rear edge of the panel 3 and the rear wall of the opening 4 in the Atable top, and then' the ends of the paper sheets are passed between the complementary vrollers or gravity rolls 21 and 22 and their respective stationary guides 28. lThe front edges of the paper sheets," as in Figure 2 are located at the front ot the housing 7` where they are readily accessible to the person wrapping the bundles of laundry. F or Y wrapping a bundle, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, a sheet of paper of required length is pulled from the housing, the paper sheet passing through between the gravity roll 21 and its guide 28. As the paper is pulled out, the pressure on the gravity roll causes said roll to ride up the wall of its slot 26, and the required length of paper is then cut or severed by a cutter designated as a whole by the number 32. While the paper is being severed the gravity roll 21y is in foi-ward, elevated position, but as 'soon as the paper issevered, the roll 21 is'treedwand immediately rolls down the incline 26 and pinches the paper sheet against the stationary abutment or bar 28, thus holding the sheet of paper with its free end accessible for a subsequent wrapping opera- The gravity roll is thus pulled by force exerted through the sheet ofpaper and the paper is released. vA stop maybe provided it necessary to limit the movement of the gravity roll on its forward movement, but usually the operatorgreadily acquires dexterity so that they pull exerted on the roll is Vsulifl'cient to release the paper, and then by 'bearing down on the paper sheet, the forwardmovement of the rollceases, while the roll .is causedito revolve or rotate until the required length of paper .is pulled fronnthe liftable head. 'When ,-thepaper is severed.

greater .movement of ythe roll and insure a 'longe-r stretch of paper from the roll ,'22r

toward the front ofthe housing` to render the paper sheet accessible. By thus pinching the paper between the gravity roll and the stationary abutment, the paper sheet is maintained in comparatively taut condition to prevent sagging, and the paper is held at its free end in position easy of access for the wrapper.

The required length of paper for wrapping the bundle is severed by the cutter 32, which is adapted to travel horizontally across the front of the housing, and is pushed by hand. The cutter operates in either direction, that is it may be pushed to the right in Figure 1 to sever a sheet, and then pushed to the left to sever the next sheet,

and is guided in its movements in the hollow bar or support'33. The cutter support may be'of suitable construction, and is suspended at the ends between the legs 8 of the liftable head. A device rectangular in cross section is illustrated as the guide bar for the cutter, but it' will be apparent that other forms of guides, as for instance a circular pipe may be substituted if desired.

The cutter comprises a slide block 34, preferably of metal, which is fashioned with side tongues 35 adapted to travel in the guide grooves 36 of the guide bar. A pair of knife blades 37 and 38 are carried by the slide' block, which blades are made up of sheet metal plates of somewhat triangular shape having inclined, sharpened upper edges. rlhe blades are arranged longitudi nally of the slide block or carrier and central thereof with their inclined'or sharpened upper edges declining toward the respective ends of the slide block. Mortises 39 are provided in the block for these knife blades and they are fashioned' to receive complementary wedges 40, secured in the block by screws 41. Thus by means of the wedges .the knife blades are clamped in the slide block and as the latter yis pushed by hand, either to right or left in the guide bar, the paper is severed into sheets. A handle 42 is provided for facile manipulation of the cutter, and is secured in the block by screw 43 which passes through a collar 44 on the screw interposed between the handle and the top of the block. A double-end guard 45, of metal plate is clamped between the handle and collar, with its opposite ends turned upwardly to actas guides for the paper and guards for the knife blades as the cutter is operated.

. The cutteris pushed backend forth'across the front of thehousing, guided infthe guide bar 33, with each cutting operation andthe vrequired `length of paper is thus `severed from the sheets pulled from the paper rolls.-

In `Figure 2 a length ofpaper is illustrated as having been severed from the paper sheet. As the free end of the sheet is pulled from itsfgravity roll it is brought downover the ytopl` edge of theguidebar33, andwhile held 1V in close contact with the bar by one hand, the other hand is utilized to operate the cutter. The cuter is brought to the edge of the paper and the edge is guided up over the cutting edge of the knife blade, under the guard 45, and then the cutter is pushed to right or left, as the case may be, slitting or severing the sheet of paper as indicated. After the required length of paper has been severed it is wrapped about the bundle of laundry, the completed package is laid aside, and a successive bundle is then wrapped, until all the bundles on the sorting table have been wrapped. panel 3 is removed, the liftable head is lowered into place flush with the table top, and the sorting operation is resumed.

As before stated changes and alterations are contemplated in the construction illustrated, as for instance more than two rolls of paper may be used, or only one roll may be utilized, but in all cases each roll of paper is equipped with a retaining device for the free end of its sheet, the gravity roll being of sufficient weight to insure the return of the roll to its lowered position to pinch the paper against its abutment and retain it in position. The abutment may be a roller with a stationary bearings support, or a iiXed bar or rod extending lengthwise of the liftable head. Different sizes and shapes of the elements constituting the machine may be adopted, as well as different materials may be substituted for those illustrated or described. but all such changes or rearrange ments fall within the scope of my appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. rl`he combination with a table having a top opening, of a panel adapted to normally close said opening, means for elevating said panel from its normal position, a removable panel closing said opening'when the first panel is elevated and. forming a slot in the table top, a paper roll supported beneath the table top with its paper sheet passed upwardly through said slot, and gravity actuated means on the elevated panel for retaining the cut free end of said paper sheet.

2. The combination lof an open top table, a panel adapted to normally close said open top, means for elevating said panel, a re After this operation, the

movable panel adapted to close the open top andwform a paper-guide slot therein, a paper roll below said table top, spaced guides in Y the first panel having inclined slots, a fixed abutment, and a pinching roll having trunnions in said guide slots, whereby the free end of a paper sheet from said roll is re tained.

3. The combination with a table top hav- 10 ing an opening and a removable panel, a

liftable panel and operating means therefor,

of a cutter supported on the liftable panel7 a paper roll supported below said table top,

the paper of said roll passing throughv a slot between the table and the removable panel, 15

and means located within the liftable panel for retaining the free end of said paper roll. In testimony whereof I have aiXed my signature.

WILLIAM B. MUNN. 

